Copy-holder.



ITO-882,903. PATBNTED MAR. 24, 1908. C. F. LUDINGTON.

COPY HOLDER.

ALPPLIGATION FILED JULY 17, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NnRRJs PETERS cu, WASHINGTON, D c,

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

O. F. LUDINGTON.

0021' HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 17. 1907.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES F. LUDINGTON, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

COPY-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed July 17, 1907. Serial No. 384,184.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs F. LUDING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Copy- Holders, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in copy holders, and the objects of my improvements are simplicity and economy in construction with convenience and efficiency of the article, particularly with reference to convenient use of the copy holder in connection with a type writer or other keyboard machine in which the operator works from copy.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a front elevation of my holder with parts broken out to save space. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with the paper clamp open. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same with the aper clamp closed and with a portion of one eg in section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional side elevation on the line as as of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of parts of my holder on the line y]; of Fig. 8. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of parts of my holder on the line 2 a of ig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan view of parts of the iictuating devices for lowering the marking I have illustrated my copy holder as specially adapted for use with type writing machines. The back or main portion of the frame of my holder consists of two posts or uprights A, B, top cross-bar C and lower cross-bar D, and in connection therewith I employ a forwardly extended arm'E from the front end of which depends a short post F that constitutes the third leg. The other two legs are formed by the lower ends of the posts A, B. The feet of these legs may be suitably cushioned or guarded to prevent marring the table upon which the holder may be laced. As shown, the feet of the posts A, B, are provided with rollers 7, of leather, hard rubber or other suitable material, while the foot of the short post or leg F is provided with a soft pad 8.

In use the holder is to be placed with the back or main frame standing uprightly at the rear part of the ty e writing machine while the arm E extends forwardly at the left hand side of the machine to a point near the left of the key board, the feet of the frame resting on the table of the type writing machine.

The lower cross-b ar D of the back is shaped to fit closely to the rear part of the frame of the type writing machine to which it may be held firmly by suitable clamps. Special lower bars will be required for different machines, but the different forms of lower bars required will not in any way change the construction or functions of any of the other parts, and even with this bar all of the necessary changes will be made between the ends of the bar.

The special form of lower bar as shown, consists of the two offsets 9 to bring the middle portion of the said lower bar D further forward than are the posts A, B. The right hand end 10 of the lower bar D is bent forwardly and rests in arecess in the outer side of the post A as shown in Fig. 1 and is secured to the said. post in any proper manner, as for example, by screws 11 Fig. 1. The other or left hand end 12 of the lower bar D is also bent forwardly to form a guard toprotect the pulleys 13 that lie between the said bent end 12 and the outer side of the post B. The lugs 14 between which the rear end of the forwardly extended arm E is hinged by the bolt 15, are formed of a piece of sheet metal doubled upon itselfand the two members brought together, except towards the front end, where they receive the end of the arm E. These lugs are bent transversely to form an angle arm one member of which is secured to the front of the bar D and the other member to the post B, thereby firmly securing the said bar to the said post. The ends of the top bar C are rigidly secured to the post A in any proper manner, as for example by screws 16. The left hand end is extended laterally beyond the post and bent forwardly to form a guard 17 for the pulley 18 that lies between the said bent end and side of the post.

"The top bar C carries the paper or book clamp, the fixed member of which is formed by the bar C itself The moving member of the'book clamp consists of a rod or bar '19 having rubber cushions 20, the said rod being hinged or journaled in the ends of the I springs 21 that are secured to the bar C with a tendency to force the rod and its cushions upon the said bar C. The rod 19 is held against moving end-wise out of place in one direction by means of a pin 22, which pin is also made long enough to assist in holding the paper or book clamp in its open position. At the other end of the rod there is a combined angle arm and lever that serves to hold the rod against moving end-wise in the opposite direction and also as the means for opening and closing the clamp. The lever 23 forms one memberof the angle arm and is provided with a handle 24 for convenience of operation. The other member 25 of the angle arm extends towards the front when the clamp is closed and downwardly when the clamp is fully open. Vhen the lever 23 and its handle stand vertically as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and by broken lines in Fig. 4, the cushions of the clamp bear firmly against the front of the bar 0 and the clamp is closed By pulling the handle of the lever 23 forwardly and downwardly, the rod 19 will be turned substantially one quarter of a revolution on its axis, the lower end of the pin 22 and the corner of the lever angle arm 25 will engage the front face of the top bar C and push the clamp rod 19 forward against the force of its springs. Then the lever 23 reaches a horizontal position the clamp is fully open and the parts will be in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A note book or any paper containing copy can now be placed in position between the jaws of the clamp. Upon lifting the handle 24 to carry the bear- *ing ends of the pin 22 and lever 23 a little below the axis of the rod 19, the springs will carry the parts into the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 4, less the thickness of the paper that may be placed between the jaws of the clamp. If a note book or several sheets of copy are used, the separate leaves or sheets when turned back up over the top of the clamp, may be held out of the way by the swinging leaf holder 26 which is pivoted by one end to the rear of the bar C. In order to prevent the copy from moving rearwardly, a folding skeleton rack 27 may be secured to the top bar and drawn down as the upper. portion of the said rack is shown in Fig. 1. This rack can be pushed up out of the way when not wanted.

An indicating or marking bar 28 is arranged to slide up and down over the upper portion of the posts A, B, to cover a portion of the copy and by its upper edge when placed immediately under the line to be next co ied, guide the operator in his work in the orrinary manner of indicating and marking bars in other copy holders. The right hand end of my marking bar has an eye 29 that surrounds the post A to guide that end of the said bar. The other end of this marking bar is secured to a slide 30 that is mounted to move vertically on the post B and may be provided with a knob or handle 31 for convenience in raising the bar. The length of this slide should be sufficient to give a good support and long bearing on the post so that the weight of the marking Jar, which is all on one side of this slide, will not bind the slide on the post but will permit it to move smoothly and easily. If desired a leaf or strap spring 32 may be let into a box-like recess in one side of the slide where it cannot escape and so as to press on the confronting side of the post B as indicated by broken lines in Fig. l and as shown in the plan view Fig. 5. I control this marking bar in its downward movement by means of the following actuating devices, a rolling finger wheel 33 is mounted on a shaft 34 in the forward end of the arm E which as before noted is immediately by the left hand side of the key board of the type writing machine. At the opposite end of the shaft 34 there is a driving wheel 35 from which a suitable flexible connection 36 extends to the slide 30 that carries the marking 'bar 28, whereby the operator can, by drawing his fingers or hand forwardly over the top of the finger wheel 33 V. ith a light pressure thereon, rotate the driving wheel as may be desired to lower the marking bar the pro )er distance to mark the succeeding lower line of the copy. In the )articular form of driving wheel and 'l'lexi le connection 36 herein shown, the driving wheel is a sprocket wheel and the flexible connection is in the form of a chain with open links with its two ends connected to the slide 30, as at 37, Fig. 1, so as to form practically an endless chain. This chain runs around and is driven by the wheel 35, (which is a rotary actuating device) and in the double form of this chain extends longi tudinally of the arm E, partly around the pulleys or rollers 13 and then longitudinally of the post B to and over the pulley or roller 18 near the top of the said post. The friction of the parts will prevent the marking bar and slide from falling down out of place, while at the same time drawing the hand or fingers lightly over the top of the finger or actuating wheel will lower the marking bar easily and readily, so that it is not only under the perfect control of the operator, but is very conveniently operated. When it has been lowered as far as may be desired and a fresh sheet or leaf is to be read, the marking bar may be easily returned to its former posi tion near the top of the holder, by lifting the slide, the knob 31 being provided for convenience in so doing.

The key boards of different machines will vary somewhat and some operators may desire to have the finger wheel higher or lower. In order to do so I make the leg F longitudinally extensible. said leg is tubular and the pad or foot 8 is The main portion of the mounted on a rod 38 that is fitted to slide in said leg and which may be secured in its adjusted position to bring the finger wheel higher or lower as may be desired. But the back or main frame of the holder should remain in a vertical position and in order that it may do so under various adjustments of the leg F, I hinge the arm E within the lugs 14 by means of the bolt 15 and loosen and tighten the said hinge by means of the nut 39 on the said bolt 15.

The downward movement of the slide and marking bar is limited by the spring latch 40 of the post B, against which the lower edge of the slide will strike if lowered far enough. But as the holder is to be placed in the rear of the machine the copy must be kept high enough not to be obstructed from view by the machine. In view of this fact the marking bar can be lowered as far as required. In order that the back or main frame may be turned down with the upper portions of the posts A, B, at the respective right and left sides of the machine and the top of said frame over the key board, to permit the machine to be covered Without detaching the copy holder, I hinge each of the said posts on the pins 41 and employ the spring latches 40 which constitute means for securing the swinging parts of the posts in their upright positions. The joints of the jointed posts should be a stop joint or hinge to prevent the post from swinging rearwardly beyond an upright position. The two full corners of the two members of each post as shown at 47 in Fig. 3, constitute with the other parts an ordinary form of stop joint. The spring latches 40 have their lower ends secured to the inner face of the respective posts while the catch part of the latch is formed with a bend 43, one side of which constitutes the holding shoulder of the latch while the other side constitutes a combined handle and beveled end for the double purpose of pulling the latch out of engagement for turning down the posts and for forming the proper bevel to make the latch self-acting when the posts are turned back into the upright position. In order that the flexible connection may not be displaced when the frame is turned down, it is passed through a guide or staple 44 on the post B just below the joint. In order to prevent the top part of the frame or back of the holder from injuring the keys of the machine when turned down, I provide the rest or stop 45 that is hinged to one side of the arm E so that it may be turned down out of the way when not wanted, as shown by full lines in Fig. 8. The outer end of this arm is provided with a laterally projecting arm or pin 46 for one of the posts to engage when the rest or stop is turned up and the posts are turned down as indicated by broken lines in the said Fig. 3. Bymaking the back of the holder in the form of a frame with side posts and hinging the said posts so as to turn down on the right and left sides of the machine, the hinge joints may be made lower down than the highest part of the type writing machine so that the turned down back will be as low or lower than the upper part of the said machine.

I claim as my invention 1. A copy holder comprisin a back or frame, a vertically sliding mar ring bar arranged to move up and down on the said frame, a forwardly extended arm projecting from the lower part of the said frame at one side, a finger wheel and connected driving wheel mounted in the forward part of the said side arm, and a flexible connection between the said driving wheel and marking bar, whereby the operator may lower the said marking bar by a movement of the said finger wheel.

2; A copy holder comprising a back or frame formed by uprights and cross-bars, a forwardly extended arm projecting from one of the said uprights, a slide fitted to one of the said uprights, a marking bar secured by one end to the said slide and extending across the frame to the other upright, an actuating device mounted to rotate in the forward part of the said arm, and a flexible connection between the said actuating device and slide whereby the operator may lower the said marking bar by partially rotating the said actuating device.

3. A copy holder comprising a back or frame formed of side uprights and cross-bars, the said uprights being jointed at their lower part for folding forwardly and downwardly, means for securing the said jointed uprights in their upright position, a marking bar arranged to be moved down and up on the said frame, means for moving the said marking bar, a paper or book clamp mounted on the top bar of the said frame and a folding skeleton rack depending from the said top bar of the frame.

4. A copy holder comprising a back or frame having a top bar, clamp springs secured to the said bar, a clamping rod or bar hinged in the ends of the said springs, and an operating lever mounted on the said clamping rod and acting on the said top bar for opening and closing the clamp.

5. A copy holder comprising a back or frame, a sliding marking bar mounted thereon, a forwardly extended arm projecting from the said back at one side, and provided with a hinge joint, an actuating device for moving the said marking bar, the said actuating device being mounted in the forward part of the said forwardly projecting arm, and an extensible leg for raising or lowering the actuating device.

6. A copy holder comprising a back or frame, a vertically sliding marking bar ardevice and marking bar whereby the operaranged to move up and down on the said tor may lower the said marking bar by parframe, a forwardly extended arm projecting tially rotating the actuating device. from the lower part of the said frame at one C ARLES F. LUDINGTON. 5 side, a rotary actuating device mounted in Witnesses:

the forward part of the said arm, and afieXi- E. W. WHEELER, ble connection between the said actuating W. H. WARBURTON. 

